Sunday, November 8, 2009

an important lesson in racing

i do not recommend attempting a race six days after a marathon. especially if said race is a trail race. a street race might be doable, but a trail race is definitely not. (kim, i don't know how you run marathon week after week!)

i "ran" a trail race on saturday, not even a week after the marathon. i couldn't help it - for some reason i want to feel like a "local" and run some weekend races in kentucky. i did not run monday through friday, so it was a grand experiment in many ways.

the race was "just" a 4-mile trail run. no biggie i thought, that'll take me "like 28 minutes". pssssssh. yeah, i rarely run trails. i majorly underestimated the ups, downs, leaves, mud and switchbacks. not to mention, my legs are still slightly tired. it was tough, very tough. i, uh, had to walk at times. in a four mile run. i walked. {hangs head}. at first i walked because the hill vertical wall i was climbing was kicking my butt, but later on i started to get the familiar "off" feeling and didn't want to have to admit to walking and puking in a 4-mile race.

i finished as the 4th place female, but it wasn't a big race. my time sure reflects how hard the course was and how tired my legs/body are. one guy recognized me from the horsey 5k and asked if i won again. (ha, yeah right.) i told him about nyc instead (my cop out). my lower back muscles are killer from the trail run, random.

running wild trail race - 4 miles, 41:59 per garmin (avg pace 10:30), avg/max hr (184/196)
yes, you are reading that right. see, hard! that's like my 5k heartrate. it was a "pr" though, by default. haha.

after taking this week (mostly) off, it's time to resume a little running. i logged a couple easy miles today, since it's world run day and all. emphasis on the easy.
at 12:40 PM
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39 comments:

  1. Oh, yes, trail races are hard, and the pace is frustratingly slow. Last summer I ran a 17.5 mile trail race in 4:15!!! Crazy, but the elevation is unforgiving! Congrats, now rest up!!
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  2. I just read your comment from the other day on my blog about me never posting about running any more...its so sad. I haven't run more than like 5 minutes since my triathlon in July. But...my knee IS feeling better so I'm hoping if I rest it all winter, come february/march I can start at least treadmill running again, someday it will be a running blog again haha
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  3. I'm impressed you could even get your shoes back on so quickly, let alone race! :)
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  4. One week after the marathon you should be sitting at home watching TV or walking slowly for 20 minutes at night. I guess you have a tough body that allows you to run a race just six days after. Congrats and I keep on reading you from Spain.
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  5. Amazing what a trail race can do to your time. All the more reason that I avoid them.. Well that and I am afraid of tripping and falling HARD.. LOL!!
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  6. I have been thinking about Trail Racing next year- but to do it a week after a marathon...girl, you are awesome!!!!!
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  7. Yeah, I hear you. The trail 5K I did earlier this summer took a little over 30 minutes. But I blame the trails, the elevation (11,000 feet) and the fact that my eye was acting up. So you can totally use NYC as an excuse too. No matter what, you did really well! Kudos!
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  8. Trails ARE killers even when just walking them! I walked the last two days since the weather here in WI was in the 70's (that's not going to last) and each day the up and down, the to the left, to the right, it all kicked my ass harder than any run I've done! Those hills on the trails are NOT hills, you had it right when you called it a "vertical wall"-now, get some rest for them legs!
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  9. 4th place is still good buddy. And yeah, maybe next time don't race so soon after a marathon. Thanks for doing the experiment for us though! :)
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  10. Hey thanks for experimenting by doing a race right after a marathon. Now we know not to if we don't want to puke. ;)
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  11. You're nuts! Cool you came in 4th though. At least you're running. I've had one day of running and walking since the marathon. No time and no motivation. OK, motivate me, "Superstar!"
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  12. Yeah, but you know trail races are supposed to be slower, right?! I run something like 12 or 13 minute miles on trails, so your time is really good.

    How'd ya like the turning of the ankles all over the place? Now that's what I REALLY love about running trails. Yeah, right.
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  13. Well...for one...I certainly don't 'RUN' like you do. I'm a back of the packer that can take a little more pounding than someone like you that runs their heart out full on.

    AND trails are HARD! Good job on your race.
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  14. wow, good for you for even getting out there and doing it! Now enjoy some more rest :D
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  15. Congratulations on the trail race! The trail sounds intimidating... especially six days after a marathon.
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  16. linds..i ran in one today for world run day too. and funny it was more of a trail than i have done..didn't sound as strenuous as yours..but still the gravel and twigs were annoying and made it much harder than i would have thought.
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  17. Trails scare the bejesus out of me. You're a trooper for tackling this so soon after the marathon!
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  18. Just imagine if you were fresh. Wow I didn't think trail runs would be so hard. Especially after reading some of the comments. I've wanted to do a few, but I've always been scared of tripping down the side of a mountain. LOL . Very cool that your back in action though.
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  19. Those little hills ARE hard. We (my daughter and I) did some trail running this summer cause we live in Bluff Country and it definitely wears you out. But, really, sounds like the marathon was affecting things too.

    Speaking of the marathon...when are you going to give us the scoop on the race?:)

    oh, you're funny, 4th place? Here I was thinking last or something.
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  20. Oh, gosh. Yeah trail races can be really brutal. Allegedly it's easier on your body than road running but if you're not used to it then it's not for sure! Make sure you recover well... it's important as training well.
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  21. Geez - FOURTH in your AG and you nearly had almost puked! AND you were a week out of NYC!!

    You're hardcore awesome, girl! Congrats :)
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  22. Congrats on the PR ;-)
    Trail races are tough, um, especially after PR'ing in the marathon. Yeah, a little tough.

    REST up!
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  23. And you still got 4th. :) You are such a rockstar regardless of how "off" your races are, Lindsay. Now, get some rest!
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  24. I know you didn't mean harm :) It is kind of sad. I don't think my doctor ever figured it out fully about the gluten thing that's why I haven't posted about it. If the blood test says no, I don't think there is any other way to know except trying to give up gluten, which I haven't done. My stomach has been feeling mostly fine so I don't really feel the need to go down that road. Still don't know whats up with my liver but my ultrasound came back 100 percent fine so hopefully that means its not anything major. Ah health issues haha!
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  25. Hahaha, I love how you can still pull off a 4th place finish on an "off day" less than a week after you just ran a killer marathon! You are my hero :)
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  27. Wow very ambitious sounds like you had fun. That average heart rate was crazy. Hey, check out my giveaway at www.trithedream.com
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  28. Way to get out there so soon after NYC, even though it didn't turn out as planned. I am thinking about doing the same thing! My half marathon is on the 15th, but I sort of want to try doing one of those Turkey Trot races on Thanksgiving day. I guess I have to see how the half turns out and decide then.
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  29. Nice trail racing Lindsay! It is so hard to maintain any sort of pace on trails, at least it was for me. My very first trail race was awesome and I want to do more!!

    You did great!!! 10 min miles on trails is very very awesome!!! Congrats and I am glad you had some fun with it!!!
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  30. Hang on...there I am merrily catching up on NYC and I get a trail race report! WTF!

    10:30 hey that's not too bad for a trail pace really!
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  31. Wow! That's an impressive max rate there lindsay! Did they have you climbing straight up?

    And wait a minute. I thought you were telling me to take it easy. Then you finish 4th?!?! Oh wai a minute. That probably is taking it easy for you - Ms. Speedy!

    I can't believe that I am doin this all over again. Training for the L.A. Marathon starts on Monday. Sigh. At least this time it's only an 18 week cycle.

    Unless of course I can put the wraps on my sleep more train less methodology and plan....
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  32. You raced? Wow! Trail races are hard, eh? Yeah, I found that out this weekend too!
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  33. I'd love to do a trail race someday, but like you said not right after a marathon. Sounds like you still did great!
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  34. I don't know how you ran a trail race right after the marathon! Glad you got 4th place!
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  35. back in action!!!! alright:) hey where is that race report...? :)
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  36. You are my hero for just attempting a race, any race 6 days after a marathon!!!
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  37. Trails are a different animal – Hills (sometimes thousands of feet), mud, roots, rocks, streams, rivers,…It really beats you up and demanding on the stabilizer muscles. But I would pick a trail over road any day.
    Congrats on finishing, especially after just completing NYC last week. Don’t be surprised if you find yourself drawn to the trails after getting a taste!
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  38. I would love to run a trail race, but I'm scared of tripping and falling. Congrats on getting it done!
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  39. I haven't run any real trail races but have heard how tough they can be. Obviously you were working hard with that HR. Congrats on 4th so soon after your marathon!
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